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Going to the chapel, again, and again and again

Elizabeth Taylor’s been married seven times. Zsa Zsa Gabor, a whopping nine times.
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Elizabeth Taylor’s been married seven times. Zsa Zsa Gabor, a whopping nine times. But all the nuptual-maniacs in Old Hollywood have nothing on Vancouver actress Cynthia Potvin who, as Valentina ‘Tina’ Vitale in the upcoming Whistler production of Tony ’n’ Tina’s Wedding, will get married 13 times in 13 days.

Potvin has played the character of Tina before in Vancouver performances and is fully aware of what lies ahead for the Whistler run: 13 straight days emulating what is supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience.

At least that’s what she says she draws upon to get into character.

"You know when you’re a little girl and you expect it to be this wonderful amazing day, I really want to go back to that, the fantasy of the wedding. Hold on to that moment and try and live it like that," says Potvin.

"As an actress, it’s important for me to really look at (the character of Tony) and say ‘I’m in love with this person and I just got married and my whole family is here,’ and I put in my head that the audience is really all my guests."

Potvin herself isn’t married, and she says the experience has definitely changed her perspective, not on the institution of marriage, but on weddings. They’ve become a bit old hat for the professional bride.

"The wedding is so realistic – wearing the dress, walking down the aisle. The only thing that doesn’t really happen is there’s no signing of any certificates," she says. "If I ever really did get married I’d probably do it on a beach somewhere because I’ve already had a really traditional wedding.

"Now that I’ve been married so many times, I don’t know that I’ll ever need to."